Discover Tomorrow’s Sleep Earbuds at CES – Preorder Now

Highlights from ZDNET

Innovative technology that monitors brain activity is soon to be part of your next audio gadget. Companies are now integrating EEG capabilities into consumer products like earbuds, potentially transforming what features you might expect in your next technology purchase.

Consider the NextSense Smartbuds. These earbuds employ EEG technology to not only play sounds that help you drift off to sleep, but they also claim to enhance sleep quality through advanced brainwave technology.

Introducing NextSense Smartbuds

Traditional EEG procedures in a medical setting involve placing up to 20 electrodes on the scalp with a sticky gel, overseen by medical personnel. This often necessitates thorough hair-washing afterward.

NextSense has streamlined this process by embedding brainwave detection directly in their earbuds, eliminating the need for gels or post-test hair clean-up.

"While many might avoid the cumbersome traditional EEG sessions,» an influencer writes in a 2024 blog, «the appeal of a simple earbud could very well change that approach."

After discovering his heart condition through an Apple Watch, technologist Berent questioned why similar consumer-friendly options for brain monitoring were unavailable.

How NextSense Earbuds Innovate

NextSense’s earbuds simplify EEG by using just three electrodes built into each device, avoiding the need for gel with conductive polymers. While impressive, these consumer-focused devices do not match the comprehensive monitoring of clinical EEG procedures.

Sleep Deeper with Less Bedtime

Much like others, the Smartbuds app offers soothing sleep tracks, or users may opt to connect with their preferred music or audiobook platforms.

Once you fall asleep wearing these buds and enter deep sleep, they enhance restorative sleep by promoting slow-wave activity. This process involves playing pink noise to naturally encourage the brain into more slow-wave states, promoting rest without extending sleep duration, as explained by Caitlin Shure, leading product development at NextSense.

These earbuds are versatile, designed for use during workouts or while working. Shure hints at future features that can analyze daytime concentration based on collected brainwave data. The device boasts a battery life ranging between seven to ten hours, varying by user habits.

The anticipated shipping kicks off in February.